PEMBROKE Dock’s new Coffee Yard is one of at least 70 businesses consolidating Pembrokeshire’s top three position in the Welsh local authorities with the highest concentration of independent coffee shops.

Based in the Royal Dockyard at Hay Construct HQ, Whites Farm Way, this fabulous enterprise launched on April 21 and has already gained a reputation for serving high quality coffee (including iced coffee!), cakes and snacks to dockyard users and visitors alike.

Opening times are 7.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Saturday. There’s limited seating inside the clean, attractive, well-equipped cabin as well as outside and takeaway options.

Behind the counter, Stephanie told us that sandwiches will soon join the savouries in the fridge, and that the coffee served in the Coffee Yard comes from Capital Roasters, keeping things local.

Another local business, Cleddau Brewing, called it “one of Pembrokeshire’s hidden gems.” The two businesses have an arrangement so customers who order beer through CleddauBrewing.co.uk can collect their order at the Coffee Yard.

SEO agency Dark Horse analysed food hygiene rating data across Wales to find coffee shops and work out which authorities had the highest percentage of independent coffee shops compared to chains.

They found a majority of independently-owned coffee shops in every authority. Neath Port Talbot ranks as the independent coffee capital of Wales, with 95.8 per cent. Powys comes second with 94.9 per cent, followed by Pembrokeshire with 90.9 per cent.

The analysis found that in Pembrokeshire, of the 1,472 food service premises throughout the county, just 77 are dedicated coffee shops, but of those, 70 are independently owned.

"It really goes to show that while convenience has its place, nothing quite beats the warmth of a passionately run local spot,” said Dark Horse’s Libby Mayfield, commenting on the research.